I recently got back into shooting and pulled out my reloading equiptment from 25 years ago. I also purchased a 44 special Charter Ams Bulldog. What would be the most accurate mold for this gun. I wouldn't think I would need to load a 240 g in this light of a weapon. I also have about 50 lb of tire weights. Do I need to change the alloy for shooting paper? I have never cast my own bullets and would appreciate any pointers.
44 Special molds
- 9K Views
- Last Post 24 April 2015
Take a look at the Lee 429-200-RF. Inexpensive, light, economical to load and shoot. Duane
Attached Files
TNshooter,
You are most astute concerning your CA 44 Special. They are light and the heavy slugs loaded warm to hot do cause a sensation in the “digital interface.:D" I had a chance to shoot one of these in Livermore CA about 20 years ago and have wanted one ever since. Right Size. Right Shape. Right Caliber.
I have used a custom LBT mould I bought from a guy named Bob in upstate New York. It drops a 170 grain slug that looks like a stumpy oil drum. Its called an Ogival Wadcutter ie. a wadcutter with a small (I believe its 1/32") ogive. Its a great bullet -- the benifit is that it is light weight and its meplat is almost full caliber. I've used it in the 44 Mag and the 444 Marlin to make light recoil loads that don't scare off new and young shooters. I hope to cast up some of these in the near future (post Christmas) and would be glad to send you a hundred just to try out. The mould is a bit big at .434 caliber. I figure Bob had a really loose old SAA in 44-40 or maybe his Marlin was loose or something. Give me a shout with an address if you want some. I can even size em down for you if you'd like. Helice
P.S. those Wheel Weights are like Gold any more. Hang on to them. It's getting harder and harder to get them and the $$$$ seems to be getting crazy. A six pack used to get me a 5 gal bucket. Now they're against State Law to sell in California.
Attached Files
Back when I was way younger and less “educated", I had one of the first Charter Arms Bulldogs.
I fired 429421 250 gr. Keiths at close to 900 fps., and the grip frame actually broke through the wood grips.
That gun was stolen, and about 10 years ago I replaced it with a Taurus model 441. This is a beefier gun, but I now load it with 200 gr. Lee SWCs and 6 gr. of RedDot. A very pleasant and accurate load.
Attached Files
:lovecast:get a lyman 429215 it is a 215 gr . it should be just what you want. or you might look AT SAECOS 944 A 200 GR WC . saeco has other moulds under240 also
Attached Files
The main problem here is whether you CA is fixed or adjustable sighted. For fix sighted a Lyman 429383 245 gr. RN sized 0.431” loaded with Bullseye is excellent and will shoot to the sights. If you have one of the longer barreled adjustable sighted ones, a lighter bullet might do very well.
Attached Files
In my S&W 1915 Hand Ejector .44 Special I use a shortened modification of the NEI #263 with the base band and lower groove removed, and the nose modified to provide a cup point bullet weighing 246 grains in soft lead. This shoots to the fixed sights of the old guns at 720 f.p.s. with 5 grains of Bullseye and flattens out like a quarter in water jugs. 8-)
73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia
Attached Files
I use to have the original Ideal 429215 mold, known as the Anderton bullet. It cast an oversized bullet, .434", for my SAA with oversized throats. I foolishly sold it and had a leaded .44 spec. ever after. Picked up a 429478 lyman which is the same bullet @ 210grs for my other .44 spec., got rid of the SAA, got tired of fighting it. Will use this new bullet in a new M-21, Ruger BH and an 18oz 396. If you can find one I think you'll like it.
Attached Files
For universal bullet I have to agree with TESTHOP. .429215 is great, my buddies favorite bullet in his M29 as he has plunked at least 4 deer with that bullet in his M29. As far as the .44 Spl (my favorite cal) my M24-3 w/ 3” barrel probably comes closest to the charter. My .44 buddy got rid of his charter due to recoil and no quick follow up shot, at least for him. The other bullet that shoots well is the .429245 just slow 'em down a mite. For cans and paper 4gr of Bull works pretty well. My first check for a new load is how close to point of aim as I don't want to sight in for every load every time. Harris' modified NEI sure looks neat. He always has the cool stuff!
Attached Files
:coffee I got caught up in the 44 Flattop craze that Ruger started a few years ago. This last spring I bought a blued Ruger New Model Blackhawk in 44 Special.
I use the 429215 Lyman gas check mold and, I use the Lee 200 grain RF (roundnose) both. Really, with my 5.5” barrel, accuracy can't be distinguished between the two. The gas checked leads less though.
Either one, I load to 7.4 grains of Unique. It's a nice load with enough punch.
Attached Files
I have been casting bullets, loading and shooting .44 Specials for many years in several different platforms (all full size guns, however).
A very nice target load is a 200 gr wadcutter (Group Buy mould) ahead of 4.0 grs of Bullseye or equivalent. This same bullet ahead of 5.0 grs of Red Dot would make a superior defense load with manageable recoil (chronographs at 878 fps). Lyman used to have a 180 gr. full wadcutter - keep your eyes open at gun shows.
I have a 240 gr LBT bullet (WFN) that should be just dandy for most guns used at reasonable ranges for everything from casual target use to hunting. This one can be loaded in modern, heavy frame guns such as the S&W Model 624 and the new Ruger .44 Sppecial Flattop anywhere from 650 fps to 1200 fps, safely, with proper powders.
My most used bullet is a Mihec clone of the H&G #503 (250 gr Keith). Again, it can be successfully loaded from 650 fps - 1200 fps in the proper platform in the .44 Special.
The heavier bullets and loads should be reserved for the heavy frame guns. If I had a Charter Arms revolver, I would defer to something like a good 200 gr bullet with a WIDE meplat at something like 850 fps. Anything heavier or faster is apt to be uncomfortable to shoot.
FWIW Dale53
Attached Files
Speaking of full wadcutters, Lyman/Ideal made a 429352 @ 245gr. I have a single cavity Ideal and it is a regular 55 gal drum of a bullet.
- #Permalink
- 0
- 0
Attached Files
If you have a limited budget, then the Lee Precision 200 gr RF (in a six cavity mould)is an excellent choice:
The Lee six cavity moulds are an excellent value. They are, by no means, the best out there, but they are arguably “good enough". I have some of the finest moulds EVER made from H&G, Mihec, and NOE but I also have, and use, a number of Lee moulds.
The Lee six cavity will allow you to make excellent production (upwards of 21# of finished match grade bullets in an hour and a half) that won't cost an arm and a leg. Size the bullets to fit your revolver's cylinder throats and you should be “good to go"...
FWIW Dale53
Attached Files
I'm kinda partial to the Lyman 429215 and the RCBS 44-225 SWC GC .
Attached Files
I found on the internet the a yellow glow under black light is a sign of black mold and sure enough there is a yellow glow near the suspicious stain and A LOT on the vent downstairs too.
Attached Files
I've owned two Charter Arms Bulldog and currently own a S&W 696. All three revolvers shoot well with 200 grain bullets and 6.5 grains Unique for both single action and double action.
The first Charter Arms Bulldog was shot with 245 grain Keith-style bullets and up to 8.0 grains Unique The heavier loads were uncomfortable, but accurate. They were hard to come back from recoil on double action. There was never a problem with the frame, but the gun shot loose on the cylinder pin.
Tthe second Charter Arms Bulldog was limited to the 215 grain Lyman 429215 mold and up to 8.0 grains Unique. This load worked better with double action shooting,but I eventually dropped back to 6.5 grains Unique.
Both Charter Arms Bulldogs leaded badly; however, a Speer shot capsule removed the leading in one shot.
The S&W 696 has never had a heavier load than the 6.5 grains of Unique. A 200 grain lead bullet or a 185 grain jacketed bullet when at a range requiring jacketed bullets. I've shot the 696 during practice at the Elmer Keith Memorial Match which is reovlvers or semi-autos, iron sights only, at 160 yards and scored well. That use brought out a flock of short-barreled carry guns and everyone was surprised at how well they were shooting.
Farm boy from Illinois, living in the magical Pacific Northwest
Attached Files
Showing off my present 44sp bullets and loaded rounds . I use an italian clone of the P73 Peacemaker for plinking Cowboy action style .
When I was a country doctor and the blessed clerico vatican marxist governement allowed concealed carry licence , to us (dangerous people) I used to carry a small Charter Arms bulldog 44 sp,nice piece of hardware to have in a pocket.
I loved the Lee full wad cutter , and like the Lee 200RF.
The other two iare a Saeco 200 flat nose modified by Erik Olson and a 270 grain Ranch Dog ( a bit heavy for a 44 sp).
Just try them and see what your gun prefers, Lee Gang molds cheaply produce buckets of bullets in a short time .
Attached Files
Categories
- All Categories
- General Polls
- Contact Us w/ Forum Issues
- Welcome to The Cast Bullet Association Forum
- General
- Bullet Casting
-
Guns and Shooting
- AR Platform
- TC Contenders & Other Single Shot Handguns
- Shotguns
- Informal Matches & Other Shooting Events
- Gunsmithing Tips
- Gun Cleaning & Maintenance
- Optics
- Benchrest Cast Bullet Shooting
- Military Bench Rest Cast Bullet Shooting
- Silhouette Shooting
- Postal Match Cast Bullet Shooting
- Factory Guns
- Black Powder Cartridge
- Hand Guns
- Lever Guns
- Single Shot Rifles
- Bolt Action Rifles
- Military Surplus Rifles
- Plinkers Hollow
- Muzzleloaders
- Hunting
- Reloading
- Buy, Sell or Trade
- Other Information & Reference
Search
This Weeks High Earners
- John Carlson 22
- Bud Hyett 21
- linoww 17
- MP1886 13
- MarkinEllensburg 10
- drone 9
- Aaron 7
- beltfed 6
- Lucky1 6
- Eutectic 6